IRVINE, Calif., May 7, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Autobytel Inc. (Nasdaq:ABTL), a leading provider of online automotive services connecting consumers with dealers, today announced it was named a winner of the 2015 IHS SPECTRUM Excellence Award for the automotive industry.

This prestigious industry award, presented by IHS Inc. (NYSE:IHS), the leading global source of critical information and insight, spotlights organizations and individuals around the world who make decisions and achieve their business goals through innovative use of information, analytics and expertise. Established in 2006, the popular industry award program was expanded in 2014 to honor achievements across an expanded range of industry sectors, professional disciplines and geographic regions.

Since the award program's inception, more than 100 organizations around the world have been recognized for their accomplishments, and Autobytel is one of only four automotive companies to win.

"Data plays a critical role in our business operations, helping us improve the quality of the millions of consumer connections we send to dealers and manufacturers each year," said Jeff Coats, President and CEO of Autobytel Inc. "With IHS, matching lead data to vehicle registration information has enabled our dealer and OEM clients to optimize their online marketing strategies to turn more leads into sales. It's incredibly rewarding to receive this honor and to be recognized for the work we've done to become a true partner to our industry clients."

Autobytel uses IHS Automotive vehicle registration information to determine the number of retail vehicle sales of consumers submitting leads through the Autobytel network. In 2014, Autobytel generated 6.6 million leads, up 30 percent from the previous year, and consumers submitting leads through the Autobytel network accounted for 4.35 percent of all U.S. new vehicle retail sales. Results are based on the IHS Automotive/Autobytel Collaborative Study of consumers that submitted a lead through the Autobytel network. (IHS Automotive is part of IHS Inc. IHS acquired R.L. Polk & Co. in 2013.)

"Autobytel has demonstrated truly outstanding leadership in the use of advanced information and analytics," said K.C. Chartrand, Chair of the IHS SPECTRUM Excellence Awards Committee. "We are proud to recognize their remarkable achievements, and we would like to thank them for sharing their story – so others can understand how they are successfully addressing some of today's strategic industry challenges."

Autobytel Inc. provides high quality consumer leads and associated marketing services to automotive dealers and manufacturers throughout the United States and offers consumers robust and original online automotive content to help them make informed car buying decisions. The company pioneered the automotive internet in 1995 with its flagship website www.autobytel.com and has since helped tens of millions of automotive consumers research vehicles; connected thousands of dealers nationwide with motivated car buyers; and helped every major automaker market its brand online. Investors and other interested parties can receive Autobytel news releases and invitations to special events by accessing the online registration form at http://investor.autobytel.com/alerts.cfm.

IHS Automotive, part of IHS Inc. (NYSE:IHS), offers clients the most comprehensive content and deepest expertise and insight on the automotive industry available anywhere in the world today. With last year's addition of Polk, IHS Automotive now provides expertise and predictive insight across the entire automotive value chain from product inception – across design and production – to the sales and marketing efforts used to maximize potential in the marketplace. No other source provides a more complete picture of the global automotive industry. IHS is the leading source of information, insight and analytics in critical areas that shape today's business landscape. IHS has been in business since 1959 and became a publicly traded company on the New York Stock Exchange in 2005. Headquartered in Englewood, Colorado, USA, IHS is committed to sustainable, profitable growth and employs about 8,800 people in 32 countries around the world.